surface wave

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noun Geology.

a seismic wave that travels along or parallel to the earth's surface (distinguished from body wave).

Nearby words

surface of revolution, surface plate, surface road, surface structure, surface tension, surface wave, surface-active, surface-active agent, surface-printing, surface-ripened, surface-tension theory of narcosis

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Science definitions for surface wave

surface wave

A seismic wave that travels across the surface of the Earth as opposed to through it. Surface waves usually have larger amplitudes and longer wavelengths than body waves, and they travel more slowly than body waves do. Love waves and Rayleigh waves are kinds of surface waves. Compare body wave. See Note at earthquake.